Description

MS-WR-2D/3D and MS-WR-3D-DP Wearher Radar Systems

The MeteoSense MS-WR3D and the MS-WR-3D-DP radar systems, working in the X-band range, are offering the highest possible geospatial resolution, combined with two- or three-dimensional altitude scanning and dual-polarization, offering real-time, server-side modelling and live visualisation of basically all forms and intensities of precipitation.

Being one of the most powerful and advanced remote sensing meteorological devices on the market today, it comes in several range and dome configurations, offering probably the best value/price ratio amongst weather instruments generally considered to be the most expensive, effective and versatile tools for gathering atmospherical information.

With a wide selection of models / configurations below 100K Euros (with the entry-level models already in the 50K Euro range), the MS-WR-2D/3D and MS-WR-3D-DP sensors are suitable even for very cost-sensitive applications. For research & development facilities, commercial companies, operating in many different fields of industry, agriculture, logistics / energy, water management, tourism, outdoor sporting and many more, the MS-WR-2D/3D family may be the best choice as well.

Whether it’s storms, hail, spring showers, snow, or just light rain, the MS-WR-2D/3D radars cover them all. While most weather radars on the market only offer a 5-10 minute refresh interval (with an additional delay of 3-8 minutes), the MS-WR-3D models scan, upload and render precipitation fields every single minute – and that’s really what we can truly call ’live’ representation of weather, happening and visualised in real-time, with an average delay of only approx. 30 seconds.

And it’s not only the ’real-time’ feature that makes the MS-WR-3D radars attractive. Using the advantages of the X-band 3 cm wavelength, they offer and equally astonishing geospatial resolution of about 100-150 m/pixel (mid range setting). That’s basically street-level resolution – for towns / populated regions, or – in agriculture – provides valuable information for every arc of crops fields or other vegetation.

With a reasonably sized parabolic, prime focus antenna, the MS-WR-3D models are emitting an 1.8° wide symmetrical beam for scanning, which is also outstanding in this price range. Using this ’pencil’ beam, 3-dimensional scanning doesn’t just provide the usual ’High-Mid-Low’ 3-level separation. Instead, it can build a truly detailed vertical profile of storms and other forms of precipitation and – at the same time – keeping the update frequency at an amazing 60 seconds.

The antenna elevation system can be configured to scan 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 levels in interlaced mode, with a 30 seconds minimum and a 60 seconds maximum averaging for each range (at 24 rotation per minute). If using multiple scanning levels – with the the recommended configuration – 12 levels can be scanned in a 5-minute interval. However, since a developing or active, moving storms / multicell systems / supercells / tornadoes (or any other intense precipitation event) will most likely be present in most, if not all elevations, their movement (development) will show up in all
1-minute refresh rate imagery continuously, regardless of the elevation interlacing methods applied.

Elevation control is very precise and can be freely adjusted by the user, depending on the general weather patterns in the area, mean average of troposphere /tropopause altitude, radar placement altitude, surrounding terrain – nearby buildings, valley, or mountains -, vegetation, and basically all other environmental properties surrounding the radar.

Elevation levels for 3-dimensional scanning can be set to any desired values with a precision of approx. 0.1 °, and can even be configured for negative elevations in the -2…+15 °range. With negative elevations, it is possible to target distant, low level precipitations with a radar placed on mountain tops or other high lands/locations, which would otherwise be below the horizon. Vertical profiles of storm clouds can be scanned in about 0.1-2 km altitude resolution, depending on distance.

The MS-WR-2D/3D systems offer an outstanding 170, 200, or even 250 km maximum range, based on on configuration – giving the option of remote sensing storms or other precipitation events in an area as large as 340, 400 or 500 km in diameter (see table for model comparisons).

The new, dual-Polarization option for the MS-WR-3D-DP models (available from mid 2015) offers a differential analysis & visualisation of reflectivity of a given precipitation field, based on interlaced scanning of the sky using continuously swapping horizontally, and the vertically polarised X-band beams and examining their reflectivities. With such a differential analysis, meteorologically valuable correlations can be derived in regards to the type of precipitation (liquid or frozen, rain or hail, etc).

The MS-WR-3D systems can be ordered with a single, or dual Radome configuration (fixed cylindrical or flexible spherical versions). The spherical version includes an inflatable outer surface, which helps prevent building up of ice and snow on the outer surface very effectively.

(Please see the comparison table of models below)

Max. Range

3-D scanning

Dual polarization

Dome shape

MS-WR-2D-A

170 km

No

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-2D-B

200 km

No

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-2D-C

250 km

No

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-3D-A

170 km

Yes

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-3D-B

200 km

Yes

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-3D-C

250 km

Yes

No

Fixed cylindrical

MS-WR-3D-A-DP

170 km

Yes

Yes

Double spherical

MS-WR-3D-B-DP

200 km

Yes

Yes

Double spherical

MS-WR-3D-C-DP

250 km

Yes

Yes

Double spherical

Note – All of the above models can be operated using smaller than their maximum ranges